My Pokemon Themed Article

[TurtIe]

I've been really inspired by the Nerd Fitness approach to blogging and decided to try my hand at it with one of my nerdy passions. I was contemplating sending it to Steve as a potential guest post but bless his soul he isn't currently accepting submissions.

So instead, I figured I'd just throw it on my blog =)

http://nate-radio.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/so-youre-fit-but-are-you-pokemon-fit.html

Or for those who hate to click links, the text version without any pretty pictures:

Gym leaders never made sense to me as a child. In fact, even today as an adult they still seem to be fundamentally flawed in their approach to battle. I remember my first visit to Pewter City, nervously walking through the enormous gym and battling its leader, Brock, for my very first badge.

I didn't think I was ready, I had barely done my due diligence to my newly acquired Squirtle, but I was impatient so I went ahead regardless.

And I won. Easily.

Brock's stone-type Pokemon collapsed like a sand pillar under the wave of my level fourteen water-type turtle. I took the Boulder Badge and a complimentary TM and was on my way.

The next time I stepped into a gym was in Cerulean City. I was weary from run ins with a seemingly infinite parade of Geodudes and Zubats but I was chomping at the bit for another badge. Misty, the Cerulean Gym leader, however, would not hand over her badge without a fight.

Her Pokemon were Water-Type. Same as mine, neither were especially effective against one another but hers were stronger and they quickly bullied me into defeat. Embarrassed I left the Pokemon Center in search of an answer. An answer that would soon show up in some long grass in the form of a Bellsprout. A grass type Pokemon with a razor leaf that would cut Misty's watery whelps to pieces.

I claimed Misty's Cascade Badge that day, but more importantly I learned some lessons that would eventually lead to past the Elite Four (and my childhood rival 'Buttdude') to claim the title of Pokemon Champion.

Not only that, but as a bonus feature I discovered I could apply these important lessons learned in the gyms of Johto to my own gym outside my lime green game boy color. What follows is the details of just how I did it.

Variety Is The Key

The world of Pokemon is home to hundreds of Pokemon, all with unique skills and abilities. Similarly, the world of Resistance Training otherwise known as 'weights' contains hundreds, even thousands, of different movements to target muscles of all shapes and sizes.

Three days a week at the gym where I work, a group of young guys come in and do a work out. The work out is always exactly the same. Always the same exercises. Always the same amount of weight. Always the same amount of reps. Always the same amount of sets. The worst part, however, is that every work out is for the exact same muscle group- their chest. They have skinny legs and slight hunches from tight chests and weak backs- not what anyone would call a picture of strength.

A strong Pokemon team contains six Pokemon with a wide range of strengths and weaknesses. A strong body performs a program that require a wide range of muscles to contract and relax so that it is ready to perform in any situation.

A program built entirely on pushups and bench presses is as defeatable as Misty's parade of water Pokemon.

Balance Wins Battles

I remember once trying to use a level 12 Growlithe against a level 35 Victreebell. My other Pokemon lacked type advantages and I was convinced that my weak fire pokemon had the advantage. Oh how wrong I was. Despite my ember attack being super effective I was quickly crushed and had to dash back to the Pokemon center.

In exactly the same way, training legs once a month is no way to be a champion. Exercises like squats and deadlifts are excellent because they train multiple muscles in the same lift, ensuring balance is maintained. When I see BROrilla’s in the gym with spaghetti legs, I cannot help but cringe. They would surely be the first to go if a stampede of Tauros got let loose through the gym doors.

Avoid Rare Candy

My brother and I both played through Pokemon Red and Blue around the same time. I raised my Pokemon slowly, leveling them up in battle against trainers and in the wild. My brother on the other hand took a short cut and fed his Pokemon nothing but Rare Candy. Not only were their teeth probably rotten but when we finally hooked our Gameboys up via Link-Cable, my team came out victorious- despite being of a similar level and type.

There is nothing more important to your body than good nutrition. Food can be the most powerful medicine or the most repulsive poison you put in your body so make sure that, if nothing else, you’re eating well- you can’t run a car on mud.

Believe

Every single person who has ever lived has had moments when it is easier to give in than go on. Professor Oak (or was it Dumbledore?) said it best with: “there will be a time when we must choose between what is easy and what is right.â€

We all have our Team Rockets. Our Dark Caves. Our missed workouts. There are moments where you think you’ve won and Lance the Dragon Trainer uses a full restore. Some times you get through, other times you have to start again. It doesn’t matter. Don’t give up. Don’t give in. Believe.

“I see now that the circumstances of ones birth are irrelevant; it is what you do with that gift of life that determines who you are†- Mewtwo

So what do you guys (and gals, of course) think? Does it make sense? Does it follow a logical path? Does it follow Steves blog layout a little too close for comfort?

Constructive criticism is what I need (just don't break my heart, jump on it with spiky shoes and then set the remnants on fire) and- in my short stay here- this seems like the best place with the smartest and most open people to ask!

[Red1263]

This is Relevant

In terms of your Pokemon-themed Workout, All I can say is that you're not alone! I already know 2 people who are Pokemon fans!

[shortstuff]

I like it, got any more?

[Siferiax]

I really liked reading it! Could totally relate haha.

Only I had a bit more trouble starting out since I had a Charmander

I always found it silly how those Gym Leaders (and even the Elite Four) had just 1 type of pokemon.

I would just choose the right type and blast them. Sure I'm stupid and only want to have my favorite pokemon on board, but luckily they're not all the same type haha.

[TurtIe]

I like it, got any more?

I've done a few (it's a pretty general blog) but not anything really geared towards direct nerdy relations.

What I have done can be found here: http://nate-radio.blogspot.com.au/search/label/fitness and you're very welcome to read the entire blog if you want =P

[shortstuff]

It's already added to my to read list on my phone

[TurtIe]

Nawww <3

[shortstuff]

What can I say, I really enjoyed it

[Kishi]

Hahahaha! It was like something we could find here on NerdFitness - and that's a compliment. Writing is good, if a little stream of consciousness, but that's not a bad thing. It, above all else, can be related to nerds, and that's the important.

[TurtIe]

Thanks Kishi! You're right, I did feel a little like I started going off on tangents occasionally, haha, but I just couldn't help but fit in some nostalgia =P

[Azk4]

I loved the post! It really inspired me as I've lived through the same story and totally understood what you meant. Really cool!

[Flex Luthor]

I think the entire point of the leaders having one type was to teach you that it was a bad strategy. Very good blog, I commend you. Although I would equate rare candy to supps/steroids versus candy but I got the point.

[Red1263]

I think the entire point of the leaders having one type was to teach you that it was a bad strategy. Very good blog, I commend you.

Well I also think it's evidence to how strong one particular type can be, like the Growlithe/Victreebell example, if strong enough, weaknesses can become strengths.

Although I would equate rare candy to supps/steroids versus candy but I got the point.

Well I think both metaphors would suffice, but the OP put it more literal, candy = Bad for teef.

[Avistew]

It was a nice post. I would have liked some pokemon-themed workouts, though Just like we have classes here, I can imagine that their types would correspond with different training styles.

[Red1263]

It was a nice post. I would have liked some pokemon-themed workouts, though Just like we have classes here, I can imagine that their types would correspond with different training styles.

I think with some creativity you can accomplish this. ie, Fire-types can be cardio (Feel the burn), Rock-types would be lifting, Fighting-types would be... err fighting... and so on. I honestly think it'd be an interesting twist, you'd be a Ranger class with a Pokemon team!

[TurtIe]

That would be majorly awesome, I'd love a forum built around PokéFitness though I wonder if that would infringe on copyright...?

I found this today too which had some great points in it, I wish I had of thought of addressing 'training with a trainer' and 'evolving' in my post!

[Weazley]

I loved reading this - keep up the good work *Heads over to the blog now*

[Red1263]

A Poke-Fitness forum would be interesting, it would be kinda interesting, but quite honestly I don't think it'll fly very well, that is, if you don't associate EVERY single pokemon to a different exercise, accurately I might add, You'll lose your credibility, and the forum will fizzle out. If you want to keep this as a personal blog-theme, then by all means go right ahead!

[TurtIe]

Yeah, I wouldn't want to host it myself, I've hardly got the time or imagination but if someone else were to do it and do it well I'd join and contribute

[Red1263]

I know a couple of nerds here wanting to do something similar to Poke-fitness, I'll run your name by them if they want to start something.

[TurtIe]

Sounds awesome!

[Mixy-Chan]

I had read this before Red mentioned anything for me...just not a lot of times in my hands to reply.

however, I've decided to make my own Pokemon type workout. I think I still have it in the prototype because I keep on wanting to change things and add more to it. It's really,really simple right now. Your artical sort of fits in with my workout. I chose six different Pokemon and there is a variety for workouts...or personal stuff. If at least 1 or 2 pokemon reach a certain level I can take on a challenge to win a gym badge. The challenges et progressivly harder as time continues. When |I finish a workout I right down the amount of time it took. That then gets transferred into experience points for my Pokemon for them to level up and evolve.

I\m still wanting to add things in...just havn't figured out how...

I started do this a while back...then I bruised my tailbone and proceeded after that healed to break my thumb.... Nothing big happend this summer... I have now just started again and hope it continues.

[thergott]

Love the post bro. I'm 25 now but have carried this infatuation with pokemon since childhood. Glad to see I'm not the only one! 

 

P.S. I always found the second gym (Misty - Water) to be the hardest in the entire red/blue game...unless you start with a bulbasaur. 

[dr3wcifer]

Now I want to go home and play old Blue again.